Spiritimus Prime: Finally, next chapter's here and we're having our final weekend before the holidays start, which is in about five school days after Sunday. And plus, I'm going to be taking a TABs test that will be starting soon. I'm so excited on getting into TAFE if I pass this and I'm getting so close to achieving my dream of being a Library Assistant! XD Enjoy this chapter of Juliet's first mission as a Transformer! :D
Chapter 7:
A New Minicon Partner
Juliet's body was tingling with excitement as she and the other Autobots landed on the other side of their destination. She glanced around at their surroundings. There was nothing but an open meadow with little trees. She grinned at the fine beauty of the wavy grass as a gentle breeze blew across the meadow. If she was still human, then the hairs on her skin would rise at the cold, giving her the goose bumps if it was possible. But to her surprise, the wind didn't even bother her by even the slightest angle, and it amused her really.
Turning her head behind her, Juliet's silver optics spotted something in the far distance. She couldn't make it out fully, but the moment she zoomed in on it, she was amazed to see that it was a herd of wild horses. Their coats were gleaming with life and they almost appeared to be shimmering in the sunlight. It amazed her at how beautiful they were, including how healthy they appeared to be. She didn't notice that Jetfire was right beside her until he cleared his throat. "Beautiful isn't it?" he asked.
Juliet jumped a little and she turned and looked back at Jetfire. "You scared, Jets, don't do that," she growled lightly, earning a laugh from the shuttle mech.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to do that. But you've got to admit it that this place is beautiful, even those animals are shining with life," Jetfire said as Juliet continued to gaze at the herd of beautiful horses.
"Yeah," Juliet agreed as she nodded.
Optimus Prime got everyone's attention with a little laugh. "Alright, everyone, enough with the sightseeing, we can do that after we obtain the Minicon," he said. Everyone nodded in agreement before Optimus began to assemble them into teams. "Jetfire and Juliet will come with me. Blurr will go with Hot Shot and the kids, Sideswipe with Smokescreen and Scavenger. Now spread out and search for the Minicon."
Everyone nodded once more before they went into their set groups and they went their separate ways.
"I'll have to admit it, Juliet, this place is extremely fascinating," said Optimus Prime as he, Juliet, and Jetfire approached some pine trees that were on the edge of the meadow.
Juliet smiled. "Maybe the humans made this as a reserve so that the animals and plants can be protected by the… government," she suggested.
"Perhaps, though I have a distinct feeling that some humans refuse to obey that law and still come here to kill the wildlife that dwell here," Optimus said as he spotted a doe and a fawn drinking at a little pool. "It amazes me so much that animals care for their young."
"Come to think about it, why do some animals eat their own young?" Jetfire asked curiously as he looked at Juliet.
"Not sure, guess its just nature's law," Juliet said quietly before she sighed.
"Let's not worry about that now. We should be almost there," Optimus reassured gently.
The three continued to wonder about until Optimus' com-link went off. "Prime here, go ahead."
"We're being attacked by Decepticon forces here, but Starscream and Demolisher aren't here, including Megatron!" Hot Shot's voice cried frantically.
"Sit tight, Hot Shot, we're on our way." Optimus turned his com-link off and he turned to Juliet, who was watching him. "Juliet, I want you to continue to look for the Minicon while Jetfire and I go and help Hot Shot and Blurr."
"But…" Juliet started to say but she was halted abruptly by Optimus' warning stare.
"You promised that you'd do as you were told if things got out of control. As a member of the Autobots and my daughter, Juliet, I advise that you listen to me extremely carefully. Follow my orders!" Optimus ordered. He didn't want to be too aggressive towards Juliet, but it was the only way for him to get the message across.
Juliet sighed in defeat before she nodded. "Alright, but I know that I can handle myself," she hissed as she frowned before she turned and walked away, leaving Optimus Prime and Jetfire to just stare at her retreating back.
Jetfire turned to Optimus. "Come on, we should get going," he said softly.
Optimus Prime nodded in agreement before he and Jetfire combined to form Jet Optimus and they took off into the sky to go and help Hot Shot and Blurr. But they failed to notice a red and silver seeker jet following quietly behind Juliet's trail.
"Now if I was a Minicon, where would I be?" Juliet wondered as she looked amongst the pine trees for anything shinning green that would be wedged in their trunks. She was a little disappointed that Optimus refused to allow her to go with him and Jetfire to help Hot Shot and Blurr, but there was nothing she could do. It pained her deeply at her hurt pride, but an order was an order. Optimus Prime maybe her adopted father, but that still meant that he would treat her like a solider.
Juliet sighed as she looked in random places, like under a rock or amongst the trees. She climbed up a small ledge until she was on flat ground and looked about. She still couldn't see a glowing panel, and she was getting very annoyed to the core of her Spark. Clenching her hands into fists, her lips pulled back into a growl and she prepared to leap down when she stopped when her silver optics laid on something shinning in a rock.
Biting back a squeal of joy, Juliet ran up to it and felt around to make sure that it wasn't a fake. The panel glowed even brighter and a big grin appeared on her face. Placing both hands on the panel she pulled, but it didn't budge. Frowning, she tried again, but nothing happened. In her frustration, she threw a fist into a tree, accidentally knocking it over. A look of shock crossed her face when she realised her mistake. "What have I done?" she asked herself.
She continued to just stand there in shock until she pulled herself together. She knew that if she continued to mope about something she accidentally did, then what point was there for her to be an Autobot? Lifting a fist, she threw a punch at the rock, putting a slight crack on it. It would do, but if she was to get the Minicon free, she would have to keep up with this act. Throwing another punch in the weakening crack, Juliet took a step back and gazed at her work, looks like it was going to be a success after all.
Taking a deep breath, Juliet threw one more punch before the rock crumbled to many pieces and the Minicon panel sat onto of the rocks, shining with life and glowing brighter as she drew nearer to get a better look at it. She was about to pick it up when she felt something touch her right shoulder and a raspy voice spoke in a cruel manner. "Do not move."
Juliet instantly froze on instinct. She felt her body tremble slightly, but nothing could compare the utter fear that she was feeling in her system. If she had adrenaline glands in her body, then a huge amount of energy would be bursting with boundless energy to fight or flight. She turned her head and noticed a silver flat blade lying on her shoulder. Its flat side was giving off her reflection as she saw her face gazing back at her with terror. She then turned her head behind her and saw a red and silver mech that she'd never seen before. But she remembered Optimus Prime telling her about a certain mech in this kind of detail. Was his name Starwhine, Starshriek, or Starscream? That's it! His name was Starscream, one of Megatron's fiercest warriors amongst his ranks!
Starscream motioned his head towards Juliet and the Minicon panel in front of her. "Hand me that Minicon and you might live," he hissed.
Juliet let off a tiny whimper and she carefully picked up the panel. Her body continued to tremble slightly, but she dared to not show her fear in front of the Second in Command of the Decepticons. But as she picked up the panel, it glowed even brighter, forcing her to drop it in surprise and Starscream tried to grab it, but Juliet shoved him out of the way without a second thought and he fell to the ground, watching in awe as Juliet quickly picked up the Minicon and made a run for it.
When Jet Optimus arrived on the scene where Hot Shot and Blurr were almost getting pounded by the Decepticons, he was shocked to see that the yellow mech had been right. Megatron, Starscream, and Demolisher were nowhere to be seen. It was like as if they'd vanished into thin air without a trace. This concerned him greatly, but whatever was going on, it must have something to do with the Minicon.
The combined mech landed on the ground and pulled out his blaster, taking careful aim at Cyclonus before he pulled the trigger, hitting the insane bot in the cockpit before he plummeted towards the ground and landed in a huddled heap. Jetfire's very emotions of getting revenge had clouded Optimus for a moment, but then the Autobot Commander had regained control and had concentrated his fire on Wheeljack and then Thrust and Tidalwave.
Everything seemed to go into a blur as red and purple shots mixed together and then silence rang through the meadow. Optimus couldn't believe how much damage had been caused, but no trees had been set alight, and that was a good thing, though some of the grass was on fire, Hot Shot and Blurr easily put them out by stamping on them.
"Good work, you two," Jet Optimus praised.
Hot Shot and Blurr nodded their thanks and saluted, but then a terrified scream echoed across the meadow. Panic seized control over the Autobot Commander as one word escaped his lips. "Juliet." Without a moment to spare, Jet Optimus took to the skies as Jetfire took control once again, while Hot Shot and Blurr raced after them as fast as they could in their alt modes.
Juliet, who was still clutching the Minicon panel, was cornered by the Decepticon Commander, Megatron. Her body trembled in fear as she tried to work out a way to escape this enemy that caused her to lose her memories in the first place. The one Transformer who'd ruined her life the day he'd shot down the blue Toyota.
Starscream and Demolisher stood on each side of their commander, watching as Juliet trembled in fear. She bit her bottom lip to swallow her fear, but she could hardly breathe and hadn't noticed her oxygen tanks had constricted tightly in her fear as the need to fight or flee pulsed through her systems. Her desperation to escape was undeniable and she wanted nothing more than to get away from the enemy that stood before her.
Megatron held out a hand towards her and she flinched. "Give me the Minicon, femme, and you'll live to be my empress," he purred as he drew a little closer and Juliet pressed her back even further against the cool rock that touched her metallic skin.
"I'll never give you the Minicon!" Juliet growled as she pressed the panel further against her chest. She would never surrender the Minicon to Megatron, not in a million years.
Megatron lifted a finger and waved it dismissively. "Now, now, we won't have you denying me now, won't we," he laughed as he stood right in front of Juliet and he crouched low until he was levelled with her optic sight. He then lifted a hand and roughly stroked her calf, making her wince as his clawed fingers fiddled with her metal skin.
Juliet then let off another scream of fear and then the next instant, something big and fast flew straight for Megatron and tackled him hard, forcing Starscream and Demolisher to move out of the way as both mechs collided together. Trees crashed in the wake of the forceful tackle and Megatron landed on his back as Jet Optimus let go of him.
The Autobot Commander landed several feet away from Megatron and he turned to face the Decepticon Commander, the rage and fury growing ever more as he stared at his arch nemesis. Never had Megatron, in his long career, had he seen that much emotion inside the red optics of the combined shuttle and semi truck mechs. It just didn't make much sense at all. Unless... unless one of them felt something towards the fine femme. It must be either Optimus Prime, or Jetfire, that would feel that much emotion and that determination was what burned angrily inside the mind of one of them.
"You will leave her alone, Megatron, the next time you try to touch her, then your life will be over before you even know it!" Jet Optimus snarled as his yellow hands clenched into fists that balled with incredible force. To Megatron's surprise, he saw Energon dripping from the balled up hands.
Megatron was about to make a comeback when the cries of Starscream and Demolisher sounded. He frowned and saw Hot Shot and Blurr pointing their guns at the two failures while the blue and yellow femme continued to look on with fear as she unclenched her hands a little, but kept a weary eye out for anyone that might dare to try and take the panel from her.
Then a bright light escaped from the Minicon panel and everyone jumped back in surprise. The panel hovered in front of Juliet for a moment and she carefully held out a hand as the panel flew into her hand and finished forming. A little robot stood in the middle of her hand. It was blue and silver with a red visor covering its optics and a faceplate as well. It even had a 'V' shaped crest in the middle of its forehead and a blue head that was shaped like Optimus'. Juliet smiled as the Minicon beeped up at her, saying words that only she could understand.
"Hello, I am Sonicburst," the little Minicon beeped happily.
"I'm Juliet, it's nice to meet you, Sonicburst," Juliet said as she lifted a finger and gently rubbed Sonicburst's head and he smiled behind his faceplate. A loud roar sounded off from in front of them and they saw Megatron howling in anger as he pointed his cannon at them. By instinct, Juliet grabbed Sonicburst and wrapped her arms around him, shielding him from any danger that the Decepticon Commander might inflict, but the shot never came. They looked up and saw a shocking sight.
Jet Optimus had come out of nowhere and had swiftly laid a punch in Megatron's abdomen with enough force to send the evil Decepticon stumbling back, gasping and gurgling as he tried to get a breath. He clutched his midsection and stared at the Autobot Commander in amazement and fury. There was defiantly something in those optics that would make anyone cower in fear.
When the Decepticon Tyrant had taken a few steps away from Jet Optimus, still gasping, but anger and hatred were now reflecting in his blood red optics. "Curse you…, Optimus Prime!" he spat. "Someday… I will have that femme! You will see! Decepticons retreat!" he cried as he vanished and Starscream and Demolisher followed in suit.
Jet Optimus sighed as he stood up straight and split back into Optimus Prime and Jetfire. The two then rushed over to Juliet as Blurr and Hot Shot hung back to keep an optic out for anymore Decepticons that might've lagged behind to try and hurt Juliet or take away her new Minicon partner. But there was no need, they'd gone anyway.
When Optimus and Jetfire approached Juliet, she looked up and showed them Sonicburst. "What do you think of him?" she asked. Sonicburst beeped a greeting and waved a hand towards the two officers.
"I think he's fantastic," said Optimus, chuckling.
Jetfire just frowned. He was too busy trying to deal with his emotions on what had happened while he and Optimus had been combined as Jet Optimus. He couldn't believe that he'd allowed himself to take control over Jet Optimus and shoot down Cyclonus and then punch Megatron in the midsection. It had shocked him greatly and he hadn't noticed he'd done it until the action had commenced. But now that the battle was over and Megatron had declared that he would capture Juliet someday, it made him feel even more protective of her than ever. He clenched his hands into fists, trying to steady himself and keep his emotions in tact.
"Jetfire, are you okay?"
The Second in Command of the Autobots looked from his thoughts and saw Juliet and Optimus standing up and looking at him closely. Juliet couldn't read his face, but Optimus had known what his thoughts were. After all, they did become one being.
"I'm fine," the shuttle mech answered with a smile. "I was just dazed for a moment. So what did I miss?"
"Optimus said that he was going to get Scavenger to train me up to defend myself in case you or he couldn't reach me in time. It might not be much, but it will keep those Decepticons at bay until back up arrives. Don't you agree with that?" Juliet asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Er… yeah, I think it's an excellent idea. It'll protect you in case we won't be there to protect you. And you need to pick out an alt mode as well," said Jetfire as he beamed.
"Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about that," Juliet laughed as she looked at Optimus. "I can transform into two things, can't I?"
"Red Alert hasn't told me exactly what you're capable of, but if he hasn't, then he can give you the ability to become a triple changer. How does that sound?" Optimus asked.
"That would be great!"
"We should get back to the others, they might be wondering where we are," said Hot Shot, halting their conversation.
Optimus Prime nodded in agreement. "Affirmative, Hot Shot. Send our coordinates to the others and we'll meet them at the edge of the forest."
"Yes, sir," the yellow mech said with a nod and he did as he was told. When he was done, he gave the signal to them that the others would see them as soon as they got out of the forest. Without a moment to spare, the group turned and headed in the direction of the edge of the forest.
When they reached their destination, they were relieved to see that none of their friends, including the kids, had gotten hurt. Juliet placed Sonicburst on the ground and the other Minicons surrounded him and hugged like as if they were family members who hadn't seen each other in a long time. Everyone chuckled at this as Optimus gave the order to launch back home.
When they returned and walked out into the Control Room, Optimus Prime turned to Scavenger and whispered to his old mentor, "I'm giving you permission to train Juliet. She was attacked by Megatron and he tried to take her for himself. She needs to learn how to hold her own until back up arrives in time. But first, Red Alert and I are going to give her an alt mode, maybe two, if Red Alert granted her to have triple changing abilities."
Scavenger nodded his understanding. He knew Optimus was extremely protective of Juliet, but not as protective as Jetfire, who watched Juliet out of the corner of his optics. He also knew that the shuttle mech had a crush on Juliet and would admit his feelings for her soon, but he just hoped that it would be soon before something might happen. "Very well, Optimus. I'll let her rest up for now, but once she recovers, training will begin."
"Thank-you, old friend," Optimus said with a nod and he approached Juliet. "Ready for your alt mode choice?" he asked her.
Juliet beamed in happiness. "You bet!" she cried.
Optimus motioned her to follow him and Red Alert and she followed without a second's hesitation. Jetfire wanted to come but Scavenger shook his head. His body language indicated that this was Juliet's journey, not his… yet.
Spiritimus Prime: Sorry that I've given you another cliffhanger, but I'm still working what kind of alt modes I would give Juliet. I was thinking about giving her a Wedge-Tailed Eagle and a Tiger, but it's still a little difficult to chose. Sorry Hydrowing, but an SR-71 Blackbird would make Juliet too big... and I don't want her to be massive because she might end up the same size as Tidalwave, and I don't want that. I like animals better, but a different jet might be better than a Wedge-Tailed Eagle. If you know what I'm getting at. Anyway, later guys!
